Cincinnati Reds Press Clippings May 3, 2016

THIS DAY IN REDS HISTORY 2012-Homer Bailey participates in the first game in major league history in which both starting pitchers celebrate their birthdays. Bailey turning 26 and Chicago’s Ryan Dempster turning 35 MLB.COM Reds' big inning doesn't hold up vs. Giants By Chris Haft and Mark Sheldon / MLB.com | 1:24 AM ET

CINCINNATI -- Sending 11 men to the plate in a six-run, six-hit bottom of the third inning, the Reds got the best of their former ace Johnny Cueto. But the Giants beat up a vulnerable bullpen for five runs in the top of the seventh to get the 9-6 win Monday at Great American Ball Park.

Cincinnati held a 6-3 advantage when JC Ramirez replaced starter Brandon Finnegan to begin the seventh. Following the first out, San Francisco notched five consecutive hits -- including Brandon Belt's RBI single off Ramirez and a three-run homer by Brandon Crawford against Drew Hayes.

Vin Mazzaro pitched two-thirds of an inning in relief for the victory. Cincinnati has dropped seven of its last eight games. The Reds were down by a 3-0 score when they hit for the cycle in their big inning with Tucker Barnhart's leadoff single starting the rally. Billy Hamilton legged for a one-out RBI double and Joey Votto's three-run homer to center field provided the go-ahead runs. Two batters later, Jay Bruce hit an RBI triple to the wall in center field. Scott Schebler's RBI single stretched the lead to three runs.

Cueto stuck around and retired eight in a row following the Schebler hit, but gave up six earned runs and seven hits over his five innings with two walks and eight strikeouts.

"You see what happens when he gets settled in," Hamilton said. "That's the kind of pitcher he is. Once he gets in that routine and starts rolling, he's a great. I've played behind him and I know how he pitches and everything. It was good to get going and get a few runs. Unfortunately it didn't turn out the way we wanted it to. That's baseball. You have to come back the next day and try it again."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Slump, begone! It's an understatement to say Crawford reversed his fortunes with his three-run homer that punctuated the Giants' big seventh inning. He was hitting .203 (12-for-59) with four RBIs in an 18-game stretch and 1-for-18 (.056) with runners in scoring position when he connected.

"It was nice to have a game where you actually get a hit with a guy in scoring position," Crawford said. "I've gotten a few RBIs through groundouts or sacrifice flies, but getting a hit in that situation's always a lot better."

Hello, friend: Votto spent a lot of time playing with Cueto the previous eight seasons but facing him for the first time was no time for sentimentality. In the third inning with a 3-2 count and two men on, Votto crushed a 92 mph fastball to straightaway center field for a three-run homer, his third of the season. The ball traveled 418 feet, according to Statcast™, and left the bat at 104 mph.

Osich handles load: Once again, Giants rookie left-hander Josh Osich excelled in relief. He finished the seventh inning by coaxing Votto's double-play grounder, then worked a perfect eighth. Osich, who was tied for the National League lead in appearances entering this game, has been in 15 of San Francisco's 27 contests.

"He's getting his rhythm out there, his command," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "It looks like he's found himself and he's done an outstanding job. He's a big part of our setup situation."

Finnegan's hamstring: Finnegan survived a rocky three-run second inning where the big hit was Cueto's two-run single through the right side of the infield. The lefty still completed a six-inning quality start with three earned runs, six hits, three walks and four strikeouts. But a sore left hamstring made it necessary for him to leave the game.

"He would not have come out otherwise," Reds manager Bryan Price said. SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS When Ramirez surrendered runs in the seventh, it meant that Reds relievers tied the Major League record by allowing at least one run for the 20th consecutive game. They now share the modern record with the 2013 Rockies.

"We have to get some guys on a roll," Price said. "It becomes a lot easier that way. Everyone starts to throw to their ability and it gets easier to slot guys in and you know who your mid-guys are. Right now, we're going to go freshest arm. We've had a lot of work in our bullpen and it's been hard finding a recipe to get through the ninth."

WHAT'S NEXT Giants: San Francisco will aim for its second three-game winning streak of the season in Tuesday's 4:10 p.m. PT rematch against the Reds. The Giants also have a chance to climb two games above .500 for the first time since they were 7-5 on April 16. Right-hander Jeff Samardzija gets the start for the visitors.

Reds: The series continues at 7:10 p.m. ET on Tuesday when the Reds hope to have shortstop Zack Cozart back in the starting lineup. Cozart, who was slowed by tendinitis in his surgically repaired right knee Sunday, missed Monday's game and is day to day. Jon Moscot, who is dealing with soreness in his non-throwing left shoulder, is still tentatively slated to start but the club has John Lamb on standby after it scratched his scheduled rehab start at Triple-A Louisville on Monday.

Finnegan pushes to 6th despite sore hamstring Reds lefty turns in quality start, doesn't expect to miss next turn By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com | @m_sheldon | 12:00 AM ET

CINCINNATI -- As starting pitchers have fallen victim -- one after the other -- to injuries on the Reds this season, Brandon Finnegan had seemingly been immune. Not only had Finnegan been comparatively durable, he had been mostly solid and able to go deeper in games.

That's why it was initially curious during a 9-6 Reds loss to the Giants on Monday that manager Bryan Price lifted Finnegan after six innings and 90 pitches. Cincinnati had a 6-3 lead when Price went to the struggling bullpen and reliever JC Ramirez. It turns out there was a very good reason. Finnegan had developed a sore hamstring in the third inning on the left leg he needs to push off from when delivering a pitch.

"We were actually a little bit more aggressive than we probably wanted to be simply because of our shortage of bullpen pieces for the night," Price said. "So he went out there and threw three more innings.

"The current state of the health of our team, it was hard for me to think about pushing him beyond the sixth inning, so I didn't. Subsequently, things got a little bit sideways on us."

For the 20th consecutive game, the Reds bullpen gave up at least one run as Ramirez and Drew Hayes combined for six runs allowed -- including five in the decisive top of the seventh.

Finnegan turned in a quality start for a no-decision with six innings, three earned runs, six hits, three walks and four strikeouts. He allowed all three runs, along with two walks and a hit batter, in the second inning that included a two-run single by Johnny Cueto.

"It was barking a little bit," said Finnegan, who has a 3.97 ERA after seven starts. "I couldn't really push off tonight. I stayed low in the zone all night, so it helped me out a little bit."

Raisel Iglesias already went on the disabled list this week while Jon Moscot is iffy to start Tuesday because of a sore shoulder in his non-throwing left arm. Alfredo Simon missed one start with a sore throwing shoulder. Pitchers Homer Bailey and Anthony DeSclafani were shut down from rehab assignments due to setbacks.

"We're having a tough time right now with our staff," Finnegan said. "Guys are having recurring injuries that are coming back up. Nobody can do anything about that. That's tough."

Will Finnegan be the next to go on the DL or have to miss a start?

"I'll be fine. Nothing serious at all," Finnegan said. "They checked it out and nothing bad. I've just got to take care of it and get treatment every day and I'll be fine. I'm not going to miss any starts."

Price realized he took a calculated risk by letting Finnegan pitch while feeling soreness.

"I had already done it for three innings and it was a gamble for him to be out there," Price said. "I don't think it's something we'll look at and go, 'Oh my goodness, he's going to be out.' But in the environment we're in, it's really hard to ask your players to do more than I've already asked them to do."

Torn shoulder labrum puts Mesoraco on DL Reds catcher weighing possibility of season-ending surgery By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com | @m_sheldon | 12:13 AM ET

CINCINNATI -- After he missed most of last season with a hip injury, Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco is now facing the specter of losing most of 2016, too. On Monday, Mesoraco was placed on the 15-day disabled list with another serious injury -- a torn labrum in his left shoulder.

Surgery is a possibility, which would mean Mesoraco would miss the rest of the season.

"We're just kind of weighing all the options," Mesoraco said. "Whether it's something I want to try and go out there and grind through and maybe possibly hurt it more, or to get it done and basically miss the rest of the year. Neither decision is any good."

Mesoraco underwent an MRI exam Monday morning and team medical director Dr. Tim Kremchek confirmed the injury.

"I think it's just from hitting," Mesoraco said. "I don't think it was one instance. I think it was just from swinging."

Over 16 games this season, Mesoraco was batting .140/.218/.160 with no homers and one RBI.

When Mesoraco first suffered what was called a left hip impingement last season, he put off surgery by doing therapy and trying to play because he was told he could not do more damage. He finally had the season-ending operation June 29 to repair a torn labrum in the hip.

A similar situation is before Mesoraco again, with one major difference.

"Doc said if I were to go back out there and try to grind through it, it could get worse," Mesoraco said. "I could do further damage. I would say at this point we're trying to get a little more information and go from there."

The roster move is retroactive to Thursday since Mesoraco last appeared in a game Wednesday. Ramon Cabrera was recalled from Triple-A Louisville to take his place. Tucker Barnhart will move up to a primary role behind the plate but it's still another injury for the club that has left manager Bryan Price shorthanded and frustrated.

"[Mesoraco] went through the hip surgery and was such an unbelievable prolific offseason worker to get ready to come in and help us," Price said. "He wants nothing more to do than be a part of our ballclub and an impactful piece. We say it all the time, but we're getting tired of saying it, someone else will come in and pick up the slack."

Cabrera, who batted .367 for the Reds last season as a first-time September callup, was batting .259 in 15 games for Louisville this season.

Cueto's return to Cincy brings mixed emotions Former Reds starter greeted with cheers before giving up six-run inning By Chris Haft and Mark Sheldon / MLB.com | 12:19 AM ET

CINCINNATI -- The first bursts of noise that Johnny Cueto heard Monday night came from the fans. Thanking him for the charisma he displayed and the mound presence he maintained during his 7 1/2 seasons with the Reds, the Great American Ball Park patrons greeted Cueto with warm ovations as he began warming up for the first inning and when he batted one inning later.

The next round of sound wasn't so pleasant for Cueto. His evening nearly came to an early end in the third inning, when he threw 46 pitches while allowing six runs and five hits. But the right-hander regained enough equilibrium to finish his five-inning performance with two shutout innings, helping stabilize the Giants as they roared back to win, 9-6.

Cueto said it "felt great to hear the support." Later, many of the same fans who cheered him started taunting him by turning his surname into a derisive sing-song chant, as is done in venues in every professional sport.

"It's normal," Cueto said. "I understand it. Things didn't come out the way I wanted them to."

That was partly because Reds speedster Billy Hamilton, the third batter in the Reds' big third, delivered a one-out RBI double and succeeded in distracting Cueto. Hamilton seemed to toy with Cueto by taking a big lead and sustaining plenty of movement. Said Cueto, "I was paying too much attention to him."

"Ever since I've been here, he's always told me he could pick me off from first. I didn't get a chance to do it at first. I was at second, so I didn't get a chance to see his pick-off move," Hamilton said. "He said that every day when I'd get on base and everything. 'I'd pick you off easy. I got you.' He does have one of the best moves I've seen. I was talking to Joey [Votto], and he's very accurate. He puts it on the money every time. It was just fun being out there."

The Reds traded Cueto to the Royals for lefty pitching prospects Cody Reed, John Lamb and his opposing starter Monday -- Brandon Finnegan -- last July 26. Cincinnati did not get to face Cueto last season, but it was bound to happen someday once its former ace returned to the National League by signing with San Francisco.

"It's weird, especially being with him for a long time and him being in a Reds uniform for a long time," Hamilton said. "I'm happy for him, man. He's a great guy, a great pitcher. It's always good to play those guys that are real good people. To see him again and face him was pretty fun."

Hamilton scored on Votto's three-run homer, which put the Reds ahead, 4-3. Hours earlier, Votto spoke of his former teammate in the kindest of terms.

"Johnny, he's a real piece of work, in a good way," Votto said in a TV interview before the game. "It'll be fun compeing against him. We had really good memories together and it was really fun playng with the guy, not only as a man but he was such a great player and such a great competitor."

Cueto demonstrated that competitiveness by finishing his evening with that pair of shutout innings. It's often said that keeping the score close for his team is a starting pitcher's most essential task. Considering that, Cueto's effort was a success, since he froze the Giants' three-run deficit -- which, in turn, enabled them to pass Cincinnati with their five-run, seventh-inning rally.

"I tried to concentrate. I tried to see what I was missing. I tried to make better pitches," Cueto said.

Moscot slated to oppose veteran Samardzija By Chris Haft / MLB.com | 1:25 AM ET

Tuesday night's Reds-Giants rematch will be a study in contrasts, with San Francisco right-hander Jeff Samardzija opposing a relatively untested Reds starter in the pitching matchup.

Right-hander Jon Moscot, who's trying to cope with soreness in his non-throwing shoulder, is tentatively scheduled to start for the Reds. Cincinnati also has left-hander John Lamb on standby after it scratched his scheduled rehab start at Triple-A Louisville on Monday. Neither has accumulated significant big league service and thus each has faced Giants hitters on no more than a few occasions.

Then there's Samardzija, who saw plenty of the Reds while performing for the Chicago Cubs. For example, Samardzija has faced Reds first baseman Joe Votto more than any other hitter during his career -- 40 plate appearances, to be exact. In those confrontations, Votto's batting only .194 (6-for-31). Other Reds with substantial experience against Samardzija include Jay Bruce (.290, 9-for-31) and Brandon Phillips (.212, 7-for-33).

Things to know about this game

• San Francisco's Brandon Belt has 11 RBIs in his last 10 games.

• Reds center fielder Billy Hamilton has hit safely in six of his last seven games.

• Giants outfielder Gregor Blanco has nine hits in his last 18 at-bats (.500). He's also 5-for-14 (.357) as a pinch-hitter.

Bailey's shutdown latest frustration for Reds Team may review medical practices as pitcher injuries continue By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com | @m_sheldon | May 2nd, 2016

CINCINNATI -- Just when some Reds pitchers and manager Bryan Price thought they were close to being out from under injury woes, they got pulled back in. Homer Bailey and Anthony DeSclafani were expected to have their rehab assignments by now, but both are currently shut down from throwing.

Add Raisel Iglesias going on the disabled list with a recurrence of shoulder issues and Jon Moscot battling soreness with his surgically repaired non-throwing shoulder, and the frustration is piling up as injuries seem to have plagued the Reds in recent seasons.

"Maybe we have to find the Schleprock in the organization, I don't know," said Price, referring to a character from the animated "Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show" of the 1970s. "There is some bad health mojo going on right now."

Price endorsed the Reds' medical staff and their work Monday, but acknowledged the organization might seek to review past practices just in case.

"I think anybody that has injuries that are copious and run over a stretch of time, you have to look at if we're doing anything we have to look into," Price said. "I have great confidence in what we're doing here. I don't think we've made any drastic changes that would suggest that we put our players in a different environment from a health standpoint and conditioning standpoint. There's no reason to suggest there's any issue with the protocols that are in place for our players. But we all have to do due diligence and all these things. I trust our people; we have good people."

Bailey, who is trying to come back from Tommy John surgery, threw 78 pitches over four innings last Tuesday for Double-A Pensacola, but had long innings as his defense committed five errors behind him. His third rehab start, slated for Sunday, was scratched and he's been shut down for five to seven days.

"I had some weird soreness," Bailey said. "As opposed to trying to push through it, they said straight up, 'We're shutting you down. We're not taking any chances.' I think at this point, it's obviously the best thing to do."

Being as close as he is to the end of his rehab process, Bailey doesn't want to risk missing a large chunk of the season now. "The last thing I want to do is get a month into playing and then have to be shut back down again," he said. "I'd rather only go through this one time, come back and stay back. I think that's why we're doing the things we're doing."

DeSclafani, who strained his left oblique during Spring Training, still feels less than 100 percent after two rehab starts. His next step is still being determined.

"Unfortunately, I'm getting conditioned to this," Price said. "That's the problem. I'm getting conditioned to the fact that we're dealing with a lot of injuries."

Following a strong big league debut in Iglesias' place Sunday, Price said Tim Adleman would remain in the rotation. Prospects Robert Stephenson, who has already made two spot starts, and Cody Reed are not currently in the mix for callups.

Garrett among top prospect performers Monday Rangers' No. 21 prospect grabs Minor League homer lead, No. 14 hurls five one-hit frames By Mike Rosenbaum / MLB.com | 3:04 AM ET

Class A Advanced High Desert has been rolling of late, winning 13 of its last 15 games to move into first place atop the California League South division with a 19-6 overall record.

Left-hander Yohander Mendez (Rangers' No. 14 prospect) and second baseman Travis Demeritte (No. 21 prospect) have been key to High Desert's early season success, and both thrived Monday as the Mavericks edged Visalia, 2-1.

Making his fifth start of the year for High Desert, Mendez, 21, struck out eight while limiting the Rawhide to just one hit in five scoreless innings. It was the third scoreless performance for the 6-foot-5 lefty in his last four starts, during which he's posted a 27/6 K/BB ratio and yielded just one earned run in 21 innings.

"One of the things that Yohander is really gifted with is his ability to make adjustments," Mavs pitching coach Oscar Marin told MiLB.com. "He controls his pitches because he controls his delivery and he's able to repeat it. He has the ability to make adjustments as he goes along during the game, which is key. A lot of younger pitchers are unable to do that in the heat of the moment and it takes them until their next outing to make the adjustments.

Demeritte powered the Mavericks in the victory with a tie-breaking, two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning. The dinger was the 21-year-old's ninth of the season and helped him retake the Minor League lead. After a disappointing 2015 campaign that saw him serve an 80-game suspension for PEDs, Demeritte has rebounded this year to hit .292/.373/.730 with 19 extra-base hits, 24 runs scored and 18 RBIs in 22 games.

The rest of the best performances from top prospects Monday

• No. 20 overall prospect Franklin Barreto (A's No. 1) stayed red hot in Double-A Midland's win against San Antonio, going 3-for-5 with his third home run, two RBIs and a pair of stolen bases. The multi-hit performance was Barreto's seventh in his last 10 games. Matt Chapman (A's No. 6) also slugged his eighth homer of the season.

• No. 23 overall prospect Bradley Zimmer's (Indians' No. 1) only hit in four at-bats for Double-A Akron was a big one: a game- tying solo home run -- his fourth of the season and second in as many days -- in the bottom of the seventh inning. The RubberDucks scored another run in the frame en route to defeating Trenton, 2-1. Right-hander Adam Plutko (Indians' No. 15) was sharp on the mound in his fifth start for Akron as he struck out six in 6 2/3 innings.

• No. 65 overall prospect Amir Garrett (Reds' No. 4) kept rolling for Double-A Pensacola with five innings of two-run ball (one earned) in a win against Birmingham. The 24-year-old southpaw scattered three hits, walked two and struck out seven. Garrett has been one of the better pitchers in the Minors to begin the season, posting a 1.52 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 32/6 K/BB ratio across 29 2/3 innings (five starts).

• Astros No. 8 prospect Joe Musgrove hurled six scoreless innings in Double-A Corpus Christi's 8-2 win against Round Rock. The right-hander allowed five hits, issued one walk, struck out five and lowered his ERA to 0.39.

"I was attacking guys, taking chances in the zone, and I established fastballs inside early, which opened up the outer half for me," Musgrove told MiLB.com. "I tried to pitch to contact early to try to get myself deep into the game and give my 'pen a little bit of a rest."

• Astros No. 11 prospect Albert Abreu was nearly unhittable for Class A Quad Cities, allowing one knock over six innings in a loss to Great Lakes. The lone hit off the 20-year-old righty came in the first inning, as did the one run he permitted in the contest, but he dominated the rest of the way en route to piling up a career-high nine strikeouts. Abreu has fanned 31 hitters (against 10 walks) in 20 1/3 innings on the season.

• Athletics No. 5 prospect Renato Nunez and Daniel Mengden (A's No. 14) paced Triple-A Nashville at the plate and on the mound, respectively, in a win against Iowa. Nunez, 22, went 3-for-4 with his fifth home run of the season -- and third in his last six games.

Mengden, in his Triple-A debut, tossed six scoreless innings. The right-hander has made five scoreless starts in six turns between the Double- and Triple-A levels.

"You know, I try not to make the game bigger than it is," Mengden told MiLB.com. "The only thing that changed from Midland to Nashville is the stadium and the jersey. It's the same game, just different places. I just tried to go out there and do the same thing -- first-pitch strikes and keep the ball down."

• Brewers No. 21 prospect Bubba Derby struck out a career-best nine batters over five innings as Class A Brevard County defeated Dunedin, 8-2. Derby yielded one run (unearned) on three hits and one walk in the outing.

• Cardinals No. 23 prospect Trey Nielsen allowed one hit in six scoreless innings, striking out four, to defeat Arkansas in his best start of the season for Double-A Springfield. The 2013 30th-rounder gave up a combined 10 earned runs between his first two starts but has been better of late, with three earned runs allowed in his last 16 2/3 frames.

• Rays No. 7 prospect Daniel Robertson went 4-for-5 with four RBIs and finished a home run shy of the cycle in Triple-A Durham win against Indianapolis. The 22-year-old shortstop raised his batting average to .253 from .214 with the four-hit effort, though it was just his third multi-hit game of the season.

"I felt good, just felt like I was in a good position to hit the ball, just stayed within myself and had a good approach. I was looking for a certain pitch and when I got it, I spread it out pretty well. So it was good," Robertson told MiLB.com.

• Royals No. 15 prospect Hunter Dozier's resurgence continued when the third baseman went 2-for-4 with a home run (his third in the last four games), double and pair of RBIs to power Double-A Northwest Arkansas past Tulsa. After batting just .213 with 12 home runs and a 45/151 BB/K in 128 games for Northwest Arkansas in 2015, Dozier, 24, has rebounded to hit .316/.419/.684 with seven homers and a 13/20 K/BB ratio over 22 games this season in his return to the Texas League.

• Yankees No. 22 prospect Cale Coshow allowed one hit over six innings in his second straight scoreless start for Double-A Trenton, who fell to Akron, 2-1. The 23-year-old righty has posted 11 2/3 blank frames in that span, during which he's lowered his ERA to 2.89 from 4.96.

"Today, he didn't have his best stuff, especially his fastball command," Trenton pitching coach Jose Rosado told MiLB.com. "He did a very good job of holding the runners on and limiting any damage. He was able to adjust and control the game."

Reds' Honorary Bat Girl in midst of cancer fight By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com | @m_sheldon | May 2nd, 2016

CINCINNATI -- Their stories are often inspiring and moving, and their presence on Mother's Day shows they are warriors in the battle vs. breast cancer. Major League Baseball announced Monday the winners of the 2016 Honorary Bat Girl Contest, which recognizes baseball fans who have been affected by breast cancer and who demonstrate a commitment to supporting the fight against the disease.

Winners were selected to represent each of the 30 MLB clubs and they will be recognized on-field at Major League ballparks on Mother's Day this Sunday. Representing for the Reds will be Caitlin Adkins of Amelia, Ohio.

Although 23 years old, Adkins, was diagnosed with Stage 3 HER2 breast cancer in June 2015 and endured multiple hospital stays, six rounds of chemotherapy and three surgeries and is in the process of undergoing 30 rounds of radiation treatment.

Adkins has shared her story at speaking engagements around the community and on her personal blog and carries a message for young women to know their bodies and to alert doctors when something is wrong.

During MLB's annual Mother's Day national day of recognition, the Honorary Bat Girl winners will take part in pregame activities, be honored during an on-field ceremony and receive pink MLB merchandise with two tickets to the game.

Reed on MLB Pipeline's Prospect Team of the Week By Mike Rosenbaum / MLB.com | May 2nd, 2016

Dansby Swanson and Andrew Benintendi were viewed as two of the top college bats available in the 2015 Draft before going to the D-backs and Red Sox with the Nos. 1 and 7 overall picks, respectively. Swanson -- now with the Braves -- and Benintendi have blown past expectations so far in their first full pro seasons, and after starring at the plate last week, they both land on the latest edition of MLBPipeline.com's Prospect Team of the Week (April 25-May 1).

Swanson received a promotion to Double-A on Saturday and hit a go-ahead home run in his debut for Mississippi, while Benintendi, who already has made a strong case for a promotion to Double-A, delivered a pair of go-ahead extra-base hits en route to driving in 11 runs for Class A Advanced Salem.

Here's our complete Prospect Team of the Week:

C: Chase Vallot, Royals (No. 11 prospect) 5 G, .333/.400/.722, 3 R, 1 2B, 2 HR, 2 RBIs, 2 BB, 9 K

Vallot paces all Top 30 catchers with five home runs on the season after he went deep twice last week for Class A Lexington. The 19-year-old backstop has fared better so far in his return to the South Atlantic League, where he owns a .296/.402/.577 batting line through 21 games.

1B: Bobby Bradley, Indians (No. 3 prospect) 6 G, .333/.429/.833, 8 R, 3 2B, 3 HR, 6 RBIs, 4 BB, 7 K

Bradley had a big week at the plate for Class A Advanced Lynchburg, tallying six extra-base hits -- highlighted by his home runs in back-to-back games to begin the week -- eight runs and six RBIs in six games for the Hillcats. He paced the Class A Midwest League with 27 home runs in 2015, and he's on his way towards contending for the Carolina League title, with six in his first 22 games.

2B: Travis Demeritte, Rangers (No. 21 prospect) 6 G, .333/.429/.750, 7 R, 4 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBIs, 4 BB, 11 K, 1 SB

Demeritte, 21, hit safely in five of his six games for Class A Advanced High Desert last week as six of his eight knocks went for extra bases. He homered in back-to-back games on Tuesday and Wednesday to push his season total to eight and reclaim a share of the Minor League lead. Demeritte is still whiffing quite a bit, though, evidenced by his 11 strikeouts last week and 38 in 21 games this season.

3B: Ryon Healy, A's (No. 17 prospect) 7 G, .433/.471/.867, 8 R, 5 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 10 RBIs, 3 BB, 7 K

Healy used four multihit efforts to collect 13 hits in 30 at-bats for Double-A Midland last week, also driving in 10 runs in that span. The 24-year-old third baseman has been one a force at the heart of the RockHounds' lineup, as he current paces the Texas League in hits (16), doubles (10), RBIs (24) and total bases (63).

SS: Dansby Swanson, Braves (No. 1 prospect) 5 G, .429/.600/.929, 4 R, 4 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBIs, 5 BB, 0 K, 3 SB

Swanson didn't disappoint in his Double-A debut on Saturday, going 2-for-3 with a go-ahead two-run home run -- his first non- inside-the-park homer of 2016 -- and three RBIs to lead Mississippi past Jackson, 3-2. The 2015 No. 1 overall Draft pick is off to a great start in his first full pro season, batting .341/.446/.565 with 15 extra-base hits and seven steals in 23 games across two levels.

OF: Peter O'Brien, D-backs (No. 9 prospect) 6 G, .500/.500/1.167, 7 R, 2 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 10 RBIs, 0 BB, 3 K

O'Brien hit three home runs in his first two games to begin the week, and then locked up PTOW honors on Sunday with a walk-off homer for Triple-A Reno in the bottom of the 12th inning. The 25-year-old slugger finished the week with 12 hits in 24 at-bats for the Aces, raising his season batting line to .372/.371/.733 through 21 games, while his eight home runs in that span has him tied for the Minor League lead.

OF: Harrison Bader, Cardinals (No. 10 prospect) 6 G, .435/.480/1.043, 6 R, 2 2B, 4 HR, 7 RBIs, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 SB

The Cardinals assigned Bader, their third-round Draft pick last June, directly to Double-A Springfield for his first professional season, and, so far, the 21-year-old outfielder has made it look easy at the advanced level, hitting .345/.402/.560 in 21 games. Bader connected on four home runs in six games for the Cards last week, three of which came in consecutive games.

OF: Andrew Benintendi, Red Sox (No. 3 prospect) 5 G, .450/.542/.700, 2 R, 2 2B, 1 HR, 11 RBIs, 4 BB, 2 K, 2 SB

Benintendi played the hero twice last week for Class A Advanced Salem, as he delivered a go-ahead bases-clearing triple on Wednesday and then followed it with a go-ahead two-run double on Thursday. The 21-year-old outfielder has been nothing short of exceptional thus far in his first full season, evidenced by his .360/.426/.640 batting line, 17 extra-base hits and 22 RBIs in 22 games for Salem. He enters the week riding a 19-game hitting streak during which he's batting .368.

LHP: Cody Reed, Reds (No. 3 prospect) 2-0, 0.75 ERA, 2 GS, 12 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 11 K, 0.75 WHIP

After he had already picked up his first win of the season for Triple-A Louisville with five innings of one-run ball against Norfolk on Tuesday, Reed put a bow on his outstanding week when he flirted with a no-hitter on Sunday in a win against Durham. The 23-year-old lefty ultimately allowed one hit in seven scoreless innings, and in the process, lowered his season ERA and WHIP to 1.62 and 0.90, respectively.

RHP: Tyler Glasnow, Pirates (No. 1 prospect) 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 GS, 11 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 6 BB, 18 K, 0.91 WHIP

Glasnow's week saw the right-hander make a pair of scoreless starts for Triple-A Indianapolis for his first two wins of 2016. The hard-throwing righty struck out a season-high 11 hitters in six innings on Tuesday and then added seven more to his total on Sunday while blanking Norfolk over five innings. Glasnow surrendered two hits in both turns. Though he's struggled with his control this season (4.2 BB/9), his 37 strikeouts in 26 innings (12.8 K/9) has him tied for the Minor League lead, while opposing hitters are batting .187 with just 17 hits against him in that span.

CINCINNATI ENQUIRER The Morning Line, 5/3 Paul Daugherty, [email protected] 9:33 a.m. EDT May 3, 2016

**Reds content in bold

Good morning, Schleprocks. Doom here. Meet me at the corner of Torn Labrum and Tingly Fingers. We’ll have a Keystone and toast to our infirmities.

The Club didn’t need help to be lacking this summer. A fully fit Reds still looked like 4th place. What will they look like now?

You wonder now for the once-bright future of D.Mesoraco. Torn labrum follows hip impingement = . . . new position?

You see him catching full-time after this? It’s easier to see a Bruce deal and Mesoraco learning to play the outfield.

Homer Bailey’s fingertips tingle. He thinks it’s a nerve issue. Gonna skip a start between bus rides. Disco’s oblique is not cooperating. Duvall ran into a wall, Cozart’s knee barks. Those last two are day to day. Aren’t we all.

What’s awfully depressing about this is, it’s only May. Five months of hardball yet to be played, and already there’s this sense of lousy finality to 2016. (That could be changed if Stephenson, Lamb, Reed etc. become full-time big-leaguers, whenever that is.)

And we haven’t even discussed the gross negligence charges pending against the two-headed GM, for leaving the entire bullpen off the major league roster. Another fabulous effort last night. This is the worst set of relievers the Reds have had since I got here in 1988. Given that some baseball experts will suggest a competent bullpen is the most important element of a successful team – and often the least expensive -- it’s very hard to understand how the Reds pen could be so completely void.

At least Joey Votto isn’t quitting. Probably.

RE THE FERRARI. . . You might not buy Votto’s reasoning for pondering retirement if he keeps channeling Mendoza. I do.

If you learn anything doing what I’ve done for almost three decades (holy crap!) it’s how to read people. A BS detector is invaluable. Votto’s unique, but not inscrutable. (Great word. Lookitup, youngsters.)

He sees himself as an artiste. He has a narcissist’s need for perfection. He really does suffer for his art.

(OK, Doc. Skip the junior-grade psychology.)

It’s interesting how the same fanatics who clawed me while they worshipped at the Church of St. Joey now want Votto outta here. He’s the same guy, and he will be the same hitter. What is highly noticeable is pitchers throw him more strikes now. He has 13 walks in 26 games, which projects to 81 walks this year, 62 fewer than last.

When I talked to him yesterday, Votto suggested his pitch selection needed to improve. I’m sure he’s right, but I do see more pitchers challenging him than in the past.

Ultimately, what he does individually doesn’t matter if the Reds keep nosediving. He had three of the greatest hitting months in MLB history (so I’m told) after the ASB last year, and his team still tanked.

Stay tuned. Or don’t.

CAN UC THE BEARCATS IN THE BIG 12. . . The TM’s Jason Williams handicaps Cincinnati’s chances here, a month before the league’s spring meetings, where expansion will be discussed. His last couple paragraphs sound ominous:

It's believed seven of the 10 schools favor expansion. But Big 12 bylaws call for a super majority vote of 75 percent (so at least eight schools) to make a major change. Texas is believed to be influencing Texas Tech's and Texas Christian's decisions to also be reluctant to expansion.

Texas Tech has long fallen in line with Texas. Both are public universities that have been in the same league together since 1956, when they were in the Southwest Conference. Texas and Texas Tech were founding members of the Big 12 in 1996.

TCU is believed to be following Texas' lead because the conference's power broker reportedly helped the Horned Frogs get into the Big 12 four years ago.

CLAYTON LIKES THE MEN’S DRAFT. ESPN.com:

I liked the pick of cornerback William Jackson III at No. 24, plus they lucked out by getting nose tackle Andrew Billings, who many thought would go in the first 40 picks, in the fourth round. The Bengals don't get enough credit for the great job they have done in the draft recently.

They get lots of credit around here. Of course, Cincinnati is Nowhere to Bristol, so it takes those folks awhile to catch on. It’s more important to talk about Johnny Manziel.

Meantime, when is enough enough? Slate.com:

Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, Neil Young, Paul McCartney, the Who, and Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters will perform on the same billing for the first time ever in October, according to The LA Times.

I love the Stones. I wouldn’t see them now if you gave me two in the front row. They went vaudeville 20 years ago.

Dylan? Never a big fan, but now that his voice sounds like he’s perpetually vomiting I’d feel like I was heading to prison.

The Who was surprisingly good when last I saw them, on TV a few years back. Daltrey could still wail. But do we really need to hear Won’t Get Fooled Again again? Meet the new Who. Same as the old Who.

McCartney really needs to stop. Baby, I’m amazed people still pay to see him.

I might pay to see Neil Young, because he’s just weird enough to make an evening interesting.

You?

NOW THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT. . . Did you follow the whole Laremy Tunsil episode? Former Ole Miss DT and No. 1 draft pick, spotted on social media before the draft, doing a bong hit while wearing a gas mask? Hilarious. That slight indiscretion mattered so much to Miami, the Dolphins picked him 15th overall.

Then Tunsil is caught texting an asst. AD, requesting that the utilities in his mother’s apartment be paid, while explaining he thought that was included in the rent that Ole Miss apparently was paying.

Rules, schmules.

When you think about it, NFL teams probably would be more suspicious of a top pick who didn’t pound the pipe. What’s his problem? Is he anti-social? Doesn’t play well with others, in a team environment? Some kinda outcast?

He doesn’t smoke pot? What’s wrong with this guy?

As for breaking NCAA rules: What does the NFL care about that?

The gas mask was great, though. Just great.

QUOTE O’ THE DAY comes from the always entertaining Charlie Pierce, now scribing at SI.com:

Knight finally found a politician whose basic appeal was essentially identical to Knight’s persona as a basketball coach.

Knight also said this, while introducing D. Trump at a rally in Indiana:

“Harry Truman, with what he did in dropping and having the guts to drop the bomb in 1944, saved billions of American lives. And that’s what Harry Truman did and he became one of the three great presidents of the United States and here’s a man who would do the same thing because he’s going to become one of the four great presidents of the United States.”

Oh, man.

Truman ordered The Bomb dropped in August 1945. It might have saved considerable American lives, but not “billions’’ of them, given our population at the time was 140 million.

We used to wonder about jocks who didn’t wield their influence for the overall public good. Get a social conscience, Michael Jordan.

Now?

Now, the alternative is no more appealing.

If Trump becomes our commander in chief, I’m scouting out houses in New Zealand. I hear Auckland is awesome this time of year.

TUNE O’ THE DAY. Doo-wop was cool. The notion of four or five guys hangin’ on a city corner and not slinging dope but actually singing, well, that’s impossibly romantic these days. The harmonies are pitch-perfect here, the sax is impeccably drowsy and fitting. As is the lovely innocence of the lyric:

So before the light/

Hold me again/

With all of your might/

In the still of the night.

Reds waste 6-run inning vs. Cueto in 9-6 loss to Giants C. Trent Rosecrans, [email protected] 1:41 a.m. EDT May 3, 2016

This time, at least the Reds' bullpen blew a save in Johnny Cueto’s favor.

In his eight seasons with the Reds, Cueto was the victim of a blown save a total of 15 times, but he was saved by a bad Reds bullpen on Monday as a member of the San Francisco Giants. The Giants scored five runs off of JC Ramirez and Drew Hayes in the seventh inning to erase a three-run Reds lead en route to a 9-6 Giants victory.

With the runs, the Reds’ bullpen has now allowed at least one run in 20 consecutive games, tying a modern Major League record set by the 2013 Colorado Rockies.

Making matters worse, opponents have scored multiple runs off of Reds relievers in 17 of 20 of those games, including six in Monday’s game. Reds relievers have also surrendered a total of 20 home runs during the streak, including a three-run homer by Brandon Crawford off of Hayes that put the Giants on top.

Well before the game got to the bullpens, Reds left-hander Brandon Finnegan — one of three left-handers the Reds received in the deal with the Royals last July — bested Cueto.

And he did it on one leg. Finnegan pitched the final three of his six innings with a sore hamstring in his left leg.

“It was barking a little bit. I couldn’t really push off tonight. It helped me out,” Finnegan said afterward, noting he should be fine to pitch again when his spot in the rotation comes back up. “I stayed low in the zone all night, so it helped me out a little bit.”

Finnegan allowed three runs on six hits with six walks and four strikeouts — and holding a 6-3 lead.

And then came the bullpen.

Ramirez struck out Matt Duffy to start the seventh inning for the Reds — and then gave up four straight hits — a single to Buster Posey, a double to Hunter Pence, a single to Brandon Belt (to score one run) and then a single to Gregor Blanco (to score another). With two on and the Reds clinging to a one-run lead, Bryan Price brought in Hayes.

That didn’t work either. Crawford hit Hayes’ 2-1 offering into the seats in center field for an 8-6 Giants lead.

That erased a 6-3 lead that the Reds were able to build in the third inning against their former teammate.

Cueto cruised through the first two innings, allowing just one hit, before Tucker Barnhart started the third with a single against his former batterymate. Following a sac bunt, Cueto wouldn’t record another out until he struck out Barnhart nine batters later. By that time, the Reds had scored six off of their former teammate on a total of six hits in the inning. Reds batters hit for the cycle in the inning with three singles (Barnhart, Scott Schebler and Brandon Phillips), a double (Billy Hamilton), a triple (Jay Bruce) and the big blow, a three-run homer by Joey Votto.

Recently Votto had said he was looking forward to the challenge of facing Cueto. In the first, Cueto struck out the Reds' first baseman. But Votto got revenge in the second, when he worked the count full and crushed a ball to straight-away center field, giving the Reds a 4-3 lead.

“I want to get them out, they want to hit home runs off of me, but this is just a baseball game,” Cueto said, according to translator Erwin Higueros.

Cueto said he was appreciative of the ovation Reds fans gave him when he started the bottom of the first and again in the top of the second when he came to the plate. He also shrugged off the derisive chants of “Cue-to, Cue-to,” as he labored through the 48-pitch third.

What was tougher to shake was Hamilton, who diverted Cueto’s attention after his double.

“Ever since I’ve been here, he’s always told me he could pick me off from first. I didn’t get a chance to do it at first. I was at second, so I didn’t get a chance to see his pick-off move,” Hamilton said. “He said that every day when I’d get on base and everything. ‘I’d pick you off easy. I got you.’ He does have one of the best moves I’ve seen. I was talking to Joey, and he’s very accurate. He puts it on the money every time. It was just fun being out there.”

Hamilton didn’t get to steal a base off of Cueto, but did trot home on Votto’s homer.

While Cueto struggled in the third, he pitched like the Cueto of old in his other four innings. So far this season, Cueto’s allowed just 17 earned runs, 11 coming in two innings. Take away the 11-batter, six-run, six-hit, two-walk third, and Cueto allowed just one baserunner over four innings.

He also knocked in a pair of runs with an RBI single in the second, part of a three-run frame against Finnegan.

“I was trying to hit a fly ball, but it was grounder,” Cueto said, according to Higueros. “It’s part of the game.”

BAR: Reds getting what they pay for in bullpen C. Trent Rosecrans, [email protected] 9:31 a.m. EDT May 3, 2016

Why is the Reds’ bullpen so bad?

Well, the short answer is you get what you pay for. The payroll for the Reds’ current bullpen is $4,754,765.

(Here I must note, that’s using the active roster of seven relievers and what those seven would make over a full season, so it’s not the exact number of what the team will pay out, but it’s a good representation.)

That’s less than the Rockies left-handed reliever Jake McGee is making this season ($4.8).

The Reds are spending just 5.11 percent of their payroll on the bullpen — the lowest percentage in baseball. The lowest a team could spend on a seven-man bullpen would be $3,552,500, a difference of just $1,202,265 million, an amount that wouldn’t even allow Brad Brach into that budget (he makes $1.25 million).

The Reds paid Burke Badenhop ($1.5 million buyout) more NOT to pitch for them than they are paying the highest member of their bullpen, J.J. Hoover ($1.4 million). Hoover is the only member of the bullpen whose season pay includes the term “point,” with Ross Ohlendorf the second-highest member of the ‘pen at $800,000.

Only the Tampa Bay Rays are spending less on their bullpen. The current Rays bullpen accounts for $4,419,326 — and that doesn’t include the two relievers on the disabled list (who still get paid, and that bumps it up more than $1 million more, so in reality they’re paying more than the Reds.)

In all, only six teams have less than $10 million in their current bullpen — the Mariners, Phillies, Padres, Brewers, Reds and Rays. The Mariners hardly count, because they have around $18.5 million on the disabled list.

Of those six, four are in the bottom third of bullpen ERA, with only the Rays and the Mariners not in the lower 10 of that category.

The best bullpen in baseball (by ERA) belongs to the White Sox, who are spending more than $21.2 million on their bullpen. Of the six highest-paid bullpens in baseball (Royals, Red Sox, Cubs, Dodgers, Pirates and Nationals), three are in the top 10 in ERA (with the Pirates in the bottom 10).

As an aside, the Reds’ active roster for pitchers is currently making a total of roughly $8.7 million — or less than all but five other bullpens in the game.

• The injuries keep mounting, and the Reds have had more than their fair share of injuries in the first month. However, what is inaccurate is what I hear a lot that “no other team” has this number of injuries.

Well, that’s not true.

ManGamesLost.com has also sorts of data, including a study of all games lost on the disabled list (of course, in the case of Devin Mesoraco last year, the Reds didn’t have him on the DL for a while, but on their bench unable to help) from 2010 to 2015. Where were the Reds in games lost? Smack dab in the middle, ranked 15th with a total of 3,507. The Tigers had the fewest (2,251) in that time period and the Rangers the most (5,631).

The site also ranks impact to a team over that period — and the Reds ranked 25 for most impactful injuries.

MINOR LEAGUE ROUNDUP

Triple-A: Louisville 1, Norfolk 0: The Reds scratched scheduled starter John Lamb before the game in case Jon Moscot can’t make his scheduled start against the Giants on Tuesday, so the Bats were forced to have a bullpen game. A total of four pitchers — Keyvius Sampson (3.1 innings), Layne Somsen (1.2 innings), Chad Rogers (2 innings) and Dayan Diaz (2 innings) — shutout the Tides. The Bats then won the game on a walk-off home run from Kyle Waldrop, who hit his fourth home run of the season. [Box]

Double-A: Pensacola 6, Birmingham 3: Amir Garrett struck out seven in five innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits with two walks, lowering his ERA to 1.52 on the season. CF Beau Amaral was 3 for 5 with a double and two RBI. RF Phillip Ervin was named the Southern League Player of the Week for the previous week. He had a hit, walked twice, scored a run and drove in a run.

High-A: Lakeland 3, Daytona 2: The Tortugas managed just three hits, but still stole six bases in the loss. LF Jeff Gelalich, who had one of the hits, had two stolen bases. 3B Taylor Sparks and RF Aristides Aquino had a hit and a stolen base each.

Low-A: Burlington 6, Dayton 0: The Dragons managed just three hits — one each from LF Mitch Piatnik, 3B Brantley Bell and DH Hector Vargas.

Brandon Finnegan leaves start with hamstring issue Zach Buchanan, [email protected] 1:40 a.m. EDT May 3, 2016

Left-hander Brandon Finnegan entered Monday as the iron man of the Cincinnati Reds' rotation. He was the only pitcher to begin the year healthy and in the rotation and make every subsequent start as April rolled along.

The Reds hope that trend continues, even after Finnegan left Monday’s 9-6 loss to the San Francisco Giants with hamstring tightness. Finnegan exited at 88 pitches after giving up three runs in six innings.

“I’ll be fine,” Finnegan said. “Nothing serious at all. They checked it out and nothing bad. I’ve just got to take care of it and get treatment every day and I’ll be fine. I’m not going to miss any starts.”

The Reds must really believe that, because Finnegan felt his left hamstring grab at him after the third inning, not the sixth. But with one of Major League Baseball’s most unreliable and overworked bullpens, manager Bryan Price’s calculus was that Finnegan could power through another three frames to save the rest of the staff.

The young lefty was placed on strict orders not to run on the basepaths or break too hard for any balls hit his way. After a sixth inning in which Finnegan worked around a two-out single, Price decided he’d pushed his luck enough.

“He was very confident that it wasn’t going to get worse,” Price said. “However, understanding where we are, risk-reward didn’t really make sense right here for one extra inning of pitching. I had already done it for three innings and it was a gamble for him to be out there. I don’t think it’s something we’ll look at and go, ‘Oh my goodness, he’s going to be out.’”

Losing Finnegan would be another injury blow for a pitching staff where a trip to the disabled list has almost become a rite of passage. Right-handers Anthony DeSclafani and Homer Bailey had setbacks on the way back from injuries, have yet to pitch this season and are currently shut down. Opening Day starter Raisel Iglesias is on the disabled list with a shoulder issue.

Righty Jon Moscot had an injury-delayed star to the season, and his ability to start Tuesday is still up in the air after he tweaked his surgically repaired, non-throwing shoulder. Right-hander Alfredo Simon missed a start due to a biceps problem and hasn’t been the innings eater the team hoped for when he does take the ball.

To fill in the gaps, the Reds have called on a combination of journeymen – many pitching in the majors for the first time – with a couple scattered starts from top pitching prospect Robert Stephenson. While the team tries to balance service-time issues with Stephenson and fellow prospect Cody Reed, the reinforcement ranks are dwindling.

“We want to be conservative in the sense that we don’t want guys to be here if they’re not ready,” Price said. “But sometimes right now, the impetus is that with all the injuries is we have some guys up here that might not yet be ready to compete at this level consistently.”

Devin Mesoraco has torn labrum as Cincinnati Reds’ injuries pile up Zach Buchanan, [email protected] 12:33 a.m. EDT May 3, 2016

The definition of a "dilemma" is a choice between two equally unappealing options. Cincinnati Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco has a whopper of one on his hands, and it should be pretty familiar.

On Monday, an MRI revealed Mesoraco had a torn labrum in his left, non-throwing shoulder. So does he opt for surgery that would likely cost him the entire season, or try to play through the injury and maybe make it worse?

"Neither decision is any good," Mesoraco said. "It is what it is.”

The Reds placed Mesoraco on the 15-day disabled list before Monday's loss to the Giants, calling up catcher Ramon Cabrera to take his place. No decision on surgery was made after the game, and Mesoraco said he's still collecting information on his options. When asked if that meant a second opinion, the catcher said he trusts team physician Dr. Timothy Kremchek, but allowed that his agent may want him to have it checked out by another doctor just in case.

Last year, Mesoraco tried to play through a hip injury that ultimately required surgery. He knows the shoulder could deteriorate further if he pushes it, but also knows surgery is inevitable. The specter of missing a second full season hangs over him. Recovery from labrum surgery takes as much as four months.

"I’m going to definitely have to get surgery at some point," he said. "We’re just kind of weighing all the options."'

Mesoraco's injury is another in a long line of health woes for the Reds. Before the game, it caused manager Bryan Price to reach for a reference from The Flintstones. Specifically, Price thinks of a certain character, Schleprock, who always was besieged by bad luck. Schleprock literally walked under a dark cloud that followed him everywhere.

Price can certainly relate.

“Maybe we have to find the Schleprock in the organization, I don’t know,” Price said. “There is some bad health mojo going on right now.”

The news about Mesoraco was just the biggest of a bunch of sad tidings brought by Monday’s return to Great American Ball Park. Rehabbing right-handers Homer Bailey and Anthony DeSclafani are both shut down, at least temporarily, and fellow righty Jon Moscot could be in danger of missing his start Tuesday against the San Francisco Giants.

Among the team’s other position players, shortstop Zack Cozart and left fielder Adam Duvall were both out nursing maladies. Price doesn’t see a through-line between his team's myriad health concerns, but it’s enough to suggest to him that an accounting of the team’s practices when it comes to dealing with injuries ironically couldn’t hurt.

“It’s just doing what you have to do when you’re in a situation and look internally,” Price said. “But I don’t think there is anything to find. I don’t think there is any smoking gun in this.”

Moscot is dealing with his own shoulder issue, although it affects his non-throwing shoulder.. Like Mesoraco, he met with team physician Dr. Timothy Kremchek on Monday. Moscot had surgery on the shoulder last year but it bothered him his last time out against the Mets in New York.

The team is concerned enough that it’s vetting potential rotation replacements for Moscot for Tuesday. One candidate could be left- hander John Lamb, who was set to make a final rehab start for the Louisville Bats on Monday. Not in consideration are top prospects Robert Stephenson and Cody Reed.

“We haven’t discussed them here in the immediate future,” Price said. “That doesn’t mean they won’t be here, but I have not been in discussions about those two.”

Next in the order of significance are the issues affecting Bailey and DeSclafani. Bailey is working back from Tommy John surgery and DeSclafani is recovering from an oblique injury, and both were close to coming off the disabled list before suffering setbacks.

DeSclafani keeps feeling sensation in his oblique and has been shut down for the short term, although exactly how long that will last has yet to be determined. Bailey thinks his issue is more with a nerve than with his ulnar collateral ligament, citing decreased sensation in his fingertips during his last rehab start.

“I was getting some weird feelings in my fingers,” Bailey said. “So that's what kind of let us know it was a nerve as opposed to the ligament or a tendon or anything.”

Bailey said the plan is to shut him down from throwing for five days, although he said his arm feels as strong as ever.

The absences of Cozart and Duvall shouldn’t be long ones. Cozart was dealing with some tendinitis in his surgically repaired knee, but Price said that’s to be expected at various points this year. Price went on to say that Cozart could be usable in some capacity despite not being in the lineup.

Duvall was out after running into the outfield wall headfirst in Pittsburgh on Sunday, although Price said sitting the young outfielder wasn’t completely injury-related. Fellow rookie outfielder Scott Schebler played well in Pittsburgh and deserved some time, Price said.

“I haven't heard any reason to think he's not capable of playing and that it's any different than any other day,” Price said.

Doc's Morning Line: Does Votto care too much? Paul Daugherty, [email protected] 10:44 a.m. EDT May 2, 2016

The Reds had a good day Sunday, but no better than our guy Trent. Rosecrans went yard twice, first with a story about J. Votto suggesting he would rather quit than play the way he played in April, the second giving us the backstory on Tim Adleman, who shut down arguably the best hitting team in the NL.

I don’t know what to make of Votto. That’s not new. Who knows what to make of Votto? He is a different spirit. Deep thinker, perfectionist, someone with lots of different interests. I used to love talking to him.

And he is one guy who doesn’t simply sound frustrated when he suggests he’d quit if things don’t improve.

Votto is a hitting savant. When he called himself a Ferrari a few weeks ago, he came off as only slightly full of himself. He’s never been a hitter who just goes to the plate hacking. As he’s gotten older, especially since the contract, Votto has become even more particular about the right way to hit a baseball, at least for him.

The week I spent in AZ, he was always one of the last players to come in from a workout. He cares deeply. Is it possible to care too deeply?

Can someone be overly conscientious?

I think in every job, there comes a point when we can try too hard. Sometimes, quoting Myles in "Risky Business," we just have to say WTF.

Let it go. Allow the physical to dominate. “Don’t think, Meat. You’ll hurt the ballclub.’’

I have no idea if that’s Votto’s issue. We don’t speak. Or at least we haven’t for a while. That’s unfortunate. But I do know that in a game where you have to perform every day, amnesia matters. Baseball can be a physical grind. It’s a mental Everest. 162-in-180 does require the confidence to forget, good and bad. To let it go, if that makes sense.

Votto has hit before, he will hit again. He didn’t forget how. Hitters always talk about “trusting the process.’’ Don’t allow the results to influence what you’re doing and how you’re doing it. Because if the process works, the results will follow.

Meantime, Votto sounds like a tortured soul. I know what he means, I think. I can sit here in front of a keyboard one day and everything is easy. Usually when it’s easy, it’s good. I’m not forcing anything. The words flash from the head to the fingertips with the speed and precision of, well, of a Ferrari. Then, for no apparent reason, they don’t.

I’m the same hack I was yesterday. Only today, the hacking is laborious, and it reads that way. How come?

I’m working on a book now. It’s about a young woman diagnosed with Stage 4 brain cancer at age 29. She fights for her right to die with dignity. It’s an achingly beautiful story, and I want to give it the respect and care it deserves. I’m in the middle of trying too hard. My agent says “just tell me a story’’ which is the writer’s version of “just trust the process.’’ Easier said than done.

Joey Votto will snap out of it. He’s Joey Votto, yeah?

Meantime. . .

WHAT IF HE DID QUIT?

Votto is making $20 million this year, $22 mil next. He’s owed $150 mil between 2018 and 2023. There is a club option for 2024, for $20 mil, which right now you have to think won’t be exercised, and a $7 mil buyout. All according to the website Cot’s Contracts, which keeps track of such things.

Votto will be 33 in September. He’d be 41 in the option year. It’s not a good deal for the Reds, a team with limited resources. We know that.

I have no idea what the financial workings of an early retirement would be. Has anyone lately opted out in the middle of a huge contract? Not Adam LaRoche. A huge contract.

Could Votto and the Reds just part ways with the club simply ceasing to pay him? Could the Reds then block any effort Votto might make to sign elsewhere, after he “retired’’? Purely (and probably stupidly) speculative.

Keeping all that cash would be great for The Club; losing its best player and getting nothing in return would not be.

I’ll put it to you, Mobsters. Would you be unhappy if Votto retired? Or would you wish him well and hold the exit door open?

TIM ADLEMAN, HOMETOWN HERO. . . As unlikely a feelgood story as you’ll find. From CTR’s story this AM:

“I’m not sure I knew what the hell was going on out there, so I didn’t have the time to get nervous, I just had to make my pitches and try to help the team win,” he said.

In the stands, a total of 26 people — between his immediate family, an aunt and uncle, and his friends — were there cheering him on as he achieved his life-long goal. Even by big-league debut standards, that was a lot of people. When Brandon Finnegan, whose locker was next to his, overheard the number, he was astounded. “Twenty-six?” Finnegan said with a chuckle.

But that number was dwarfed by those cheering for Adleman from afar. From a youth coach in North Carolina, to other family members across the country and right there at Village Market, there were people cheering for a guy who had beaten all the odds. Adleman was a four-year pitcher at Georgetown, while most prospects leave college after three years. He was drafted by the Orioles and cut in his second season. Unwilling to give up on his dream, Adleman attended a tryout camp with the Florence Freedom in 2012. He didn’t make that team, but he was recommended to another, lower-level, independent league and played for three different independent teams, in Lincoln, Nebraska; El Paso, Texas; and in New Jersey, before the Reds took notice and signed him for the 2014 season.

These are the guys you root for. They are the ones who make your heart smile. He “didn’t make’’ the Florence Freedom?

Great example, it seems, of a guy just trusting his process. “I’m not sure I knew what was going on out there.’’ That’s beautiful. For a day at least, Tim Adleman was the reason we love our games.

Now, then. . .

TRIP REPORT. . . We spent our 33rd anniversary in the best possible way: Hangin’ with the Erstwhile Kid Down The Hall in Bushwick, Brooklyn, N-Y-C. In an apartment by the elevated train, where anything you could possibly want was no more than a 5- minute walk away. Assuming that anything you could possibly want was limited to beer, cigars, coffee and bread.

NY is amazing in all ways, so very alive. We went to see "Jersey Boys" on Broadway. (Thank you, Rick Steiner). If you haven’t seen it, run don’t walk. Best musical I’ve ever seen.

We had pizza delivered, we went to the Strand bookstore, where I bought an out-of-print copy of "North Toward Home," Willie Morris’ autobiography. (Lookimup, kids.)

We smoked cigars on the fire escape of the 4th-floor walkup, and on the roof with its million-dollar views of Manhattan. We went to a record show, huge, where I saw an original Electric Ladyland (naked ladies on the jacket) for $500, but spent $1 on a pristine Al Green record instead.

Right next door, a guy had been murdered the day before we got there. I swear. The tributes spilled out from his doorway onto the sidewalk.

I could never live there. Life is complicated enough already. And the rents? Fuhgeddaboutit. But my son and his girlfriend love it. We stay a few days, enough to appreciate its diverse insanity. And to be grateful we don’t have to negotiate it full time. I’m too old for that.

And finally. . .

DO WE STILL SAY ‘PLEASE’ AROUND HERE? When I got here in ’88, I heard it all the time. You’d ask someone something. He/she didn’t hear you.

“Please?’’

I was baffled at this. Please what?

An entirely Cincinnati thing.

And now?

Do you still hear it? Does anyone under 65 say it?

Discuss.

WCPO - Channel 9 Fay: Is this 2008 all over again? By: John Fay Posted: 9:22 PM, May 2, 2016 Updated: 12:19 AM, May 3, 2016

CINCINNATI — Joey Votto and Johnny Cueto had a conversation on their first big league Opening Day. It was 2008.

“We had a little chat about what we were going to do together,” Votto said. “It came to fruition. We had really good memories together. It was really fun playing with the guy. Not only as a man, but he’s such a great player — such a great competitor.”

We know now that 2008 was the start of the long climb back to respectability for the Reds. Cueto and Votto were instrumental in the turnaround that led to playoff appearances in 2010, 2012 and 2013.

The Reds are rebuilding again. Votto is still here and will be through at least 2023. Cueto was back in town Monday with the San Francisco Giants, starting against his old team for the first time.

The trade of Cueto in July signified that the Reds had gone into the full rebuild mode. Cueto was about to be a free agent, and the Reds knew he would be too expensive. That turned out to be true when he got a six-year, $130 million deal with the Giants.

“He was here for eight years,” Price said. “His best years were here. He’s coming off a World Series with Kansas City. He got a very nice, well-deserved contract with San Francisco. He’s in a good place. We certainly would have loved to have him here. It just wasn’t going to be feasible. We all know that.”

Cueto was not at his best Monday. He allowed six runs in the Giants’ 9-6 win over the Reds. The Reds batted around in the third inning, highlighted by Votto's three-run homer.

“I don’t really know what happened,” Cueto said. “I was leaving my pitches too high and paying too much attention to (Billy) Hamilton (on second).”

Cueto was great warmly by the fans early in the game, but he got a “Cue-to” chant when he got in trouble.

“It’s normal,” he said. “I understand it.”

With Cueto back in town, it’s fair to ask: Is this 2008 all over again? And are the Reds a couple of years from turning it around?

That’s impossible to say.

But it’s not hard to see that the Reds don’t have a young Votto on the roster. Votto finished second in the National League Rookie of the Year vote in 2008. Two years later, he was the NL MVP.

The Reds don’t even have a young position player from the system on the 25-man roster. The hitter with the best chance to develop into a Votto type is Jesse Winker. He likely won’t be in the big leagues until September.

There isn’t likely a future Cueto on the 25-man roster, either.

The Reds have a wealth of young pitching talent. They got Brandon Finnegan, John Lamb and Cody Reed for Cueto in the trade with Kansas City. Top prospect Robert Stephenson and Reed probably have the best chance to develop into a legitimate ace like Cueto.

But it’s not a given that either will. After all, the Reds went 35 years without an ace until Cueto turned himself into one.

Another thing to remember about 2008: It turned out to be the seventh straight losing season for the Reds. So they were trying to turn things around for years. None of the rebuilding jobs worked until ’08 got them on the right path.

Again, whether they’re on the right path now is impossible to say. Just as it was impossible in 2008 to predict that Cueto and Votto would turn out to be what they became.

Cozart out Monday night with sore knee, as Reds injuries pile up At least a few more days until Bailey returns By: John Fay Posted: 5:07 PM, May 2, 2016 Updated: 12:25 AM, May 3, 2016

CINCINNATI — Reds manager Bryan Price mentioned eight different players in his pregame injury report.

The Reds are quickly entering the “if it weren’t for bad luck, we’d have no luck at all” category on the injury front.

“Unfortunately, I’m getting conditioned to this,” Price said. “That’s the problem. We’re dealing with a lot of injuries dating back to Ryan Ludwick Opening Day of 2013 separating his shoulder and missing the bulk of the season. Then certainly all of ’14 and a good portion of ’15, and now entering ’16.

“The health of our players — keeping them healthy — has been challenging.”

Devin Mesoraco (left shoulder) and Zack Cozart (right knee) were out of the lineup Monday night, with Mesoraco being placed on the disabled list for 15 days. Starters Homer Bailey and Anthony DeSclafani had setbacks in rehab starts. Jon Moscot is listed at Tuesday’s starter, but the Reds aren’t sure he’ll be able to start because his left shoulder (non-throwing) is sore. Adam Duvall was out of the lineup after banging his head in the Pittsburgh series. Raisel Iglesias (shoulder) went on the disabled list Sunday.

Price doesn’t blame the injuries on anything the Reds do, but he is looking into it.

“I’ve been through this before,” he said. “We had a really nice team in the 2003 season in Seattle. All the starters made all their starts. No one was asked to do too much. Everything you would want. The next year we had a lot of injuries. It was immediately suggested that the pitchers were overworked or the system that they were in didn’t work out.

“Now, that being said, I think anybody who has injuries that are copious and run over a stretch of time you have to look at if there’s anything we’re doing. I have great confidence in what we’re doing here. . . There’s no reason to suggest there’s anything wrong with our protocols.”

The Reds had all five pitching starters make every start in 2012.

“We haven’t changed our protocols,” Price said. “I don’t think there’s anything to find. I think it’s a bad stretch.”

Here’s a run down in injuries:

> Cozart: He left Sunday’s game after running out a two-base error. He was having pain in his right knee.

“I don’t know a whole lot more,” Price said. “It’s a tendinitis issue that he’s been playing with. It gets acerbated by certain starting, stopping motions. I’m giving him a day today. That doesn’t mean he’s not usable, but I’m giving him a day off starting.”

Cozart will have to deal with tendinitis as part of his recovery from the major knee surgery he had in June. Certain movements worsen the condition.

“When he triggers it, it’s a very acute, sharp pain,” Price said.

> Mesoraco: He saw Dr. Timothy Kremchek to get his left shoulder checked out. The Reds were awaiting the results.

> Moscot: “It’s feeling OK,” Price said. “He saw Dr. Kremchek. We’ll get a little more feedback today. It bothers him enough that we’re concerned him pitching tomorrow.”

> Bailey: Bailey had some inflammation in his surgically repaired right elbow.

“It’s the triceps nerve,” Bailey said. “I’ll probably be shut down five days to a week.”

> DeSclafani: He still hasn’t gotten over the oblique strain suffered in spring training.

“He had some discomfort with the oblique,” Price said. “I don’t know if that’s just scar tissue breaking away or the injury’s not healed. I talked to him today. He’s not 100 percent. I don’t what the next step is.”

> Duvall: He was available Monday. “I haven’t heard anything that he’s not capable of playing,” Price said

John Lamb, who is coming back from offseason back surgery, was scheduled to start Monday for Triple-A Louisville, but ultimately spent that game in the bullpen. He would seem to be a candidate to start Tuesday — if Moscot can’t go.

Tim Adleman started for Iglesias (shoulder) on Sunday. Edelman is scheduled to make another start on Friday.

Price said the club has not talked about going with top prospect Robert Stephenson or No. 2 prospect Cody Reed.

“I have not discussed Stephenson coming into our rotation or Cody Reed or really anyone else at this point. It doesn’t mean there aren’t a lot of people thinking about them. We haven’t discussed them in the immediate future. It doesn’t mean they won’t be here. I haven’t been in discussions about those two.”

Reed returned to the Louisville rotation Sunday and allowed one hit over seven shutout innings.

“It’s still electric stuff,” Price said. “The game reports are off the charts as far as make-up.”

DAYTON DAILY NEWS Billy Hamilton messes with mind of former Reds ace Johnny Cueto By David Jablonski Posted: 9:37 a.m. Tuesday, May 3, 2016

CINCINNATI — Billy Hamilton didn’t get to talk to former Cincinnati Reds teammate Johnny Cueto on Monday night. He only nodded and said, “What’s up?”

The two engaged in a different sort of conversation on the base paths in the third inning. With Hamilton on second base after an RBI double, Cueto threw back to second to keep Hamilton close to the bag several times and also faked a couple of throws.

“He just looked at me and smiled,” Hamilton said. “I gave him a few smiles. It was fun.”

Cueto, who was pitching for the San Francisco Giants in his first start as a visitor at Great American Ball Park, played with Hamilton the previous three seasons and knows what he can do.

“He knows how to control the running game,” Hamilton said. “It was fun being out there messing with him a little bit, him being a former teammate. I needed to make that happen. Being out there was fun.”

Hamilton knows he got in Cueto’s head because Cueto walked the next batter Ivan De Jesus Jr. and then gave up a three-run home run to Joey Votto, a single to Brandon Phillips and a triple to Joey Votto. The Reds hit for the cycle against their former ace in a five at-bat sequence.

“He’s usually around the plate,” Hamilton said. “That at-bat, he was missing a lot. I think I had a little bit to do with that. I don’t take credit for most things like that.”

The Reds scored six runs in the third against Cueto to take a 6-3 lead but lost 9-6. The bullpen seized the headlines by blowing the lead, but it was still a memorable night for Hamilton and other Reds hitting against Cueto for the first time.

“It was pretty amazing,” Hamilton said. “I played behind him and know how he pitches because from center field, you can see how he pitches. He’s a great pitcher. He’s one of the best ever.”

The injured line up at Price’s office door By Hal McCoy Posted: 5:15 pm Monday, May 2nd, 2016

CINCINNATI — Nearly every day, it seems, somebody walks into Cincinnati Reds manager Bryan Price’s office bearing bad tidings. Another day, another pitcher down.

The list is extensive and disheartening: Homer Bailey, Anthony DeSclafani, Raisel Iglesias, Jon Moscot, John Lamb, Michael Lorenz and a partridge in a pear tree.

On Sunday in Pittsburgh Iglesias was scheduled to pitch but lapsed onto the disabled list with an impingement in his shoulder. Moscot’s name is still listed as Tuesday night’s starter but he was in the training room Monday afternoon having his left shoulder checked. List him as doubtful.

“It bothers him enough that we are concerned about him being able to pitch tomorrow,” said Price. “It isn’t his throwing shoulder, but if it bothers him it might affect the way he delivers the ball and be at risk for missed locations and worst-case scenario a change in mechanics that could affect his arm slot.”

AND OVER THE course of the last two days Price learned that the comebacks of Homer Bailey and Anthony DeSclafani, both on the fast track, have been sidetracked with slight setbacks.

“Unfortunately, I’m getting conditioned to this and that’s the problem,” said Price. “I’m getting conditioned to the fact we’re dealing with a lot of injuries dating back to 2013. Keeping our players healthy has been a real problem.”

Asked if there might be something the team is missing in its handling of players, particularly pitchers, Price was bluntly honest and said, “Anybody that has copious injuries that runs over a stretch of time you have to look to see if we’re doing anything we have to look into. I have a great confidence in what we’re doing here. I don’t believe we’ve made any drastic changes that would suggest we’ve put our players in a different environment from a health or conditioning standpoint. I trust our people. We have good people. “You have to look internally, but there is nothing to find, there is no smoking gun,” he said. “We’re just in a bad stretch. There is some bad health mojo going on right now.”

BAILEY WAS BREEZING in his stage-to-stage comeback from Tommy John surgery, until a start last week in Pensacola.

“About 27 pitches in I thought, ‘Something is going on in my elbow,’” said Bailey. “I could feel something that wasn’t right. The next day I knew, ‘We have a problem, some weird soreness.’”

So they shut him down and he won’t throw again for a least a week.

“Instead of trying to push through it, they told me straight up, ‘We’re just shutting you down,’” said Bailey. “They’re not taking any chances and it is the best thing to do. It is part of (the healing process). You are going to have problems and I just haven’t had any. The last thing I want to do is to get into a month of pitching and have to be shut back down again. I’d rather go through this one time so I can come back and stay back. If I miss a start or two in May, big deal.”

Said Price, “Both Bailey and DeSclafani are limited in what they can do right now. Bailey is going to have to be pain-free before he can throw again. DeSclafani is having some discomfort with his oblique. We don’t know if that’s scar tissued breaking away or the injury is not healed. He is not 100 per cent.”

SHORTSTOP ZACK COZART and catcher Devin Mesoraco were not in Monday’s lineup. Mesoraco, along with pitcher Jon Moscot, underwent an MRI before the game. And would it surprise anybody to learn that Mesoraco has a torn labrum (left shoulder) and was placed on the disabled list. Louisville catcher Ramon Cabrera was immediately summoned from Class AAA Louisville to backup Tucker Barnhart.

Cozart left a game for the second time this season on Sunday in Pittsburgh after running from home to second base. As it was diagnosed on the previous occasion it is tendinitis, something that was expected after his reconstructive knee surgery last mid- season.

“It is irritating to him, something he has been playing with, but sometimes that gets exacerbated,” said Price. “It is part of the recovery process, something our doctors told him to expect and knew it was something he had to deal with when he started playing. Something usually triggers it and when that happens it is a sharp pain.”

QUOTE OF THE DAY: There was at least one non-Cincinnati Reds observer who was not surprised when 28-year-old Tim Adleman came up from Class AAA Louisville for his major league debut and shut down the Pirates Sunday on two runs and three hits over six-plus innings. Said one American League scout: “I saw Adleman in Louisville just before he got called up and it is not surprising because he has been throwing like that.”

ESPN.COM Giants-Reds Preview 12:17 AM ET STATS LLC

San Francisco and Cincinnati are dealing with injuries to key players, yet the Giants might be better equipped to handle the situation.

They'll try for a fifth consecutive road victory over the Reds on Tuesday night.

With Joe Panik (groin) and Angel Pagan (hamstring) out, San Francisco (14-13) overcame a six-run third inning by Cincinnati that led to a three-run deficit in Monday's 9-6 victory. Brandon Crawford's three-run homer highlighted a five-run seventh for the Giants, who have totaled 39 runs in their last four games at Great American Ballpark.

Crawford, batting .306 in the last 11 games, is 9 for 18 with two homers and 12 RBI in the last four at Cincinnati. It's possible he will see the return of double-play partner Panik to the lineup as early as Wednesday.

"He's made a lot of improvement," manager Bruce Bochy said of Panik, who missed the last three games but is available to pinch- hit.

Kelby Tomlinson went 2 for 5 in place of Panik on Monday.

Pagan is expected to miss this series, but Bochy hopes the outfielder will avoid a stint on the disabled list.

A loser in nine of 11, Cincinnati (10-16) placed catcher Devin Mesoraco (shoulder) on the DL before Monday's game and could be minus shortstop Zack Cozart (knee) for a second straight contest.

Cozart is hitting a team-high .347.

"It will be something he'll have to deal with the rest of the year," manager Bryan Price said.

The club also learned right-handers Homer Bailey (elbow) and Anthony DeSclafani (oblique) won't throw for a few more days because of setbacks in their minor league rehab stints.

Jon Moscot (0-2, 4.02 ERA) left Wednesday's 5-2 loss to the New York Mets after five innings with soreness in his non-throwing shoulder, but he's expected to make this start.

"We are kind of ruling out anything serious right now," the right-hander told MLB's official website. "Just a little inflammation in there. ... I think I'll be all right."

Moscot has allowed at least three runs in each of his three starts, but only one was earned against the Mets. He's also walked four in two straight outings.

None of Moscot's six career starts have come against the Giants, who counter with Jeff Samardzija (3-1, 3.86).

Despite giving up five runs in 5 2/3 innings of Wednesday's 13-9 victory over San Diego, Samardzija will try to win a third consecutive start. The right-hander is 0-5 with a 4.39 ERA in his last nine starts against the Reds but hasn't faced them since June 2014.

Joey Votto went 0 for 6 with four walks against Samardzija when they last squared off that season. Votto, who clubbed a three-run homer Monday, is 11 for 33 with two homers and eight RBI in the last 10 games. He went 10 for 58 with one home run and seven RBI in the first 16.

The Reds' bullpen has allowed at least one run in 20 straight games, tying the 2013 Colorado Rockies for the longest streak since 1900. It's posted a 7.80 ERA and yielded 20 home runs during that span.

"It's hard finding a recipe right now," Price said. "We're bringing up guys who might not be ready. ... We've got to get healthy."

ASSOCIATED PRESS Cueto roughed up but Giants rally for 9-6 win over Reds 9:49 AM ET By: Joe Kay The Associated Press

CINCINNATI -- Johnny Cueto enjoyed the hugs and the applause. He didn't care much for one horrid inning that put him in line for a loss -- until the Reds' bullpen got involved, of course.

The Reds roughed up Cueto in his return to Great American Ball Park, but the San Francisco Giants rallied against Cincinnati's historically bad bullpen, riding Brandon Crawford's three-run homer to a 9-6 victory Monday night.

Joey Votto hit a three-run homer as the Reds piled up six runs in the third inning off Cueto, who got a warm welcome from his former teammates and fans before the game. It was Cueto's worst showing since he gave up eight runs during Kansas City's 11-8 loss at Toronto in the AL Championship Series last season.

Cueto threw 46 pitches during the inning, the most since he threw 49 in the first inning against Philadelphia on June 6, 2009.

"Things didn't come out the way I wanted to," Cueto said through a translator. "I felt normal. There's nothing I could do. The game just changed right there."

It changed again when the Reds' bullpen let a 6-3 lead slip away.

Brandon Belt and Gregor Blanco singled in runs off J.C. Ramirez (0-2) in the seventh. Crawford connected off Drew Hayes for his third homer and an 8-6 lead. Crawford also singled home a run in the ninth, giving him four RBI against the Reds' bullpen -- his total for the previous 17 games combined.

"I've felt pretty good at the plate lately, but I haven't been getting a lot of hits," Crawford said. "I felt like my swing was there and I just had to stick with it."

Crawford's homer was the 22nd allowed by Reds relievers in 26 games, by far the most in the majors.

It was the 20th straight game in which Cincinnati's bullpen has given up at least one run, tying the 2013 Rockies for the longest such streak in the majors since 1900, according to information from the Reds provided by the Elias Sports Bureau.

"It's hard finding a recipe right now," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "We're bringing up guys who might not be ready. Guys are pitching out of their roles. We've got to get healthy. They're getting a lot of opportunities. Nobody's rotting down there."

Vin Mazzaro (1-0) retired two batters. Santiago Casilla set down the side in the ninth for his fifth save in seven chances.

Price and numerous Reds players embraced Cueto during batting practice. Most of the 13,829 fans applauded as he took the mound in Cincinnati for the first time since the Reds traded him to Kansas City last July, the start of Cincinnati's rebuild. Cueto signed a $130 million, six-year deal with the Giants in the offseason.

Cueto came to bat with the bases loaded in the second inning and singled home a pair of runs off Brandon Finnegan, but the right- hander couldn't hold an early three-run lead.

The Reds sent 11 batters to the plate for six runs in the third. Billy Hamilton doubled home the first run, Votto hit his third homer, and Jay Bruce had an RBI triple. The Reds put together three singles, two walks, a double, a triple, a homer and a stolen base during the inning.

BEATING UP THE REDS

The Giants are 6-2 against the Reds over the last two seasons, including 4-1 at GABP. Brandon Belt is 17 for 34 during those eight games with three homers, nine extra-base hits and 11 RBI.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Giants: Called up OF Mac Williamson from Triple-A Sacramento while Angel Pagan recovers from a mildly strained left hamstring, which is expected to sideline him for four or five more days. ... 2B Joe Panik was out of the lineup for the third straight game with a sore groin. He was available to pinch-hit.

Reds: An MRI revealed that C Devin Mesoraco has a torn labrum in his left shoulder. He went on the 15-day DL and C Ramon Cabrera was called up from Triple-A Louisville. ... SS Zack Cozart was out of the lineup with a sore right knee, which underwent reconstructive surgery last year. It's expected to bother him occasionally all season.

UP NEXT

Giants: RHP Jeff Samardzija (3-1) makes his sixth start of the season, trying for a notable win. He is 1-5 in 24 career appearances -- including 10 starts -- against the Reds with a 4.30 ERA. He is 0-5 in his last nine starts against them.

Reds: RHP Jon Moscot (0-2) might make his fourth start. In his last one against the Mets on Wednesday, he was bothered by soreness in his left shoulder, which required surgery last year. The Reds will decide early in the day whether to let him pitch.

Reds' bullpen becomes historically bad in 9-6 loss to Giants By Joe Kay The Associated Press Updated: 11:58 p.m. Monday, May 2, 2016 | Posted: 11:58 p.m. Monday, May 2, 2016

CINCINNATI — With yet another meltdown, the Cincinnati Reds' bullpen became historically bad.

The Reds roughed up Johnny Cueto in his return to Great American Ball Park, but the San Francisco Giants rallied against Cincinnati's relief corps, riding Brandon Crawford's three-run homer to a 9-6 victory Monday night.

Reds relievers couldn't hold a 6-3 lead in the seventh.

Brandon Belt and Gregor Blanco singled in runs off J.C. Ramirez (0-2). Crawford connected off Drew Hayes for his third homer and an 8-6 lead. Crawford also singled home a run in the ninth, giving him four RBIs against the Reds' bullpen — his total for the previous 17 games combined.

Crawford's homer was the 22nd allowed by Reds relievers in 26 games, by far the most in the majors.

It was the 20th straight game in which Cincinnati's bullpen has given up at least one run, tying the 2013 Rockies for the longest such streak in the majors since 1900, according to information from the Reds provided by the Elias Sports Bureau.

"It's hard finding a recipe right now," manager Bryan Price said. "We're bringing up guys who might not be ready. Guys are pitching out of their roles. We've got to get healthy. They're getting a lot of opportunities. Nobody's rotting down there."

Joey Votto hit a three-run homer as the Reds piled up six runs in the third inning off Cueto, who got a warm welcome from his former teammates and fans before the game. It was Cueto's worst showing since he gave up eight runs during Kansas City's 11-8 loss at Toronto in the AL Championship Series last season.

"Things didn't come out the way I wanted to," Cueto said through a translator. "I felt normal. There's nothing I could do. The game just changed right there."

Vin Mazzaro (1-0) retired two batters. Santiago Casilla set down the side in the ninth for his fifth save in seven chances.

Price and numerous Reds players embraced Cueto during batting practice. Most of the 13,829 fans applauded as he took the mound in Cincinnati for the first time since the Reds traded him to Kansas City last July, the start of Cincinnati's rebuild. Cueto signed a $130 million, six-year deal with the Giants in the offseason.

Cueto came to bat with the bases loaded in the second inning and singled home a pair of runs off Brandon Finnegan, but the right- hander couldn't hold an early three-run lead.

The Reds sent 11 batters to the plate for six runs in the third. Billy Hamilton doubled home the first run, Votto hit his third homer, and Jay Bruce had an RBI triple. The Reds put together three singles, two walks, a double, a triple, a homer and a stolen base during the inning.

"It was fun getting a chance to face him," Hamilton said. "From playing behind him, I've seen all of his pitches. He's a great pitcher."

BEATING UP THE REDS The Giants are 6-2 against the Reds over the last two seasons, including 4-1 at GABP. Brandon Belt is 17 for 34 during those eight games with three homers, nine extra-base hits and 11 RBIs.

TRANSACTIONS 05/02/16

Boston Red Sox optioned Marco Hernandez to Pawtucket Red Sox. Arizona Diamondbacks sent RHP Josh Collmenter on a rehab assignment to Visalia Rawhide. New York Mets sent LHP Josh Edgin on a rehab assignment to Las Vegas 51s. Cincinnati Reds recalled Ramon Cabrera from Louisville Bats. Los Angeles Dodgers placed RHP Josh Ravin on the restricted list. Cincinnati Reds placed C Devin Mesoraco on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 28, 2016. Torn labrum in left shoulder. San Diego Padres designated LHP Michael Kirkman for assignment. San Diego Padres recalled Alex Dickerson from El Paso Chihuahuas. Arizona Diamondbacks sent Matt Buschmann outright to Reno Aces. Oakland Athletics sent 3B Danny Valencia on a rehab assignment to Stockton Ports. Los Angeles Angels sent OF Daniel Nava on a rehab assignment to Inland Empire 66ers. Atlanta Braves recalled Mike Foltynewicz from Gwinnett Braves. Atlanta Braves optioned John Gant to Gwinnett Braves. San Francisco Giants recalled Mac Williamson from Sacramento River Cats. San Francisco Giants optioned Steven Okert to Sacramento River Cats. Boston Red Sox signed free agent 1B Ryan Court to a minor league contract. Miami Marlins optioned Cody Ege to New Orleans Zephyrs. Detroit Tigers sent RHP Angel Nesbitt on a rehab assignment to Lakeland Flying Tigers. Atlanta Braves selected the contract of 3B Reid Brignac from Gwinnett Braves. Seattle Mariners sent Joe Wieland outright to Tacoma Rainiers. Atlanta Braves selected the contract of RF Chase d'Arnaud from Gwinnett Braves. Atlanta Braves selected the contract of LF Matt Tuiasosopo from Gwinnett Braves. Atlanta Braves optioned Jace Peterson to Gwinnett Braves. Atlanta Braves designated CF Drew Stubbs for assignment.